REVIEW -Living in Florida means losing your power a couple of times a year due to thunderstorms and hurricanes. Having a whole-home generator would be perfect, but the cost is prohibitive. Having affordable backup power like the Anker SOLIX C2000 Gen 2 Portable Power Station, and its companion, the Anker SOLIX PS400 Portable Solar Panel ,are essential parts of any hurricane prep kit. Let’s explore this next-gen power lineup from Anker.
⬇︎ Jump to summary (pros/cons)
Price: Power Station: $1,498.00, Solar Panel $899.00
Where to buy: Power Station: Anker, Solar Panel: Anker, Bundle: Amazon
What is it?
The Anker SOLIX C2000 Gen 2 Portable Power Station is a portable 2048 watt-hour, LFP battery power station with several different charging options and many different output types. Its companion solar panel, the Anker SOLIX PS400 Portable Solar Panel, is a large (27 sq-feet), 400 watt/48-volt, solar panel for charging the power station.
What’s included?
- Anker SOLIX C2000 Gen 2 Portable Power Station
- AC Charging Cable
- Car Charging Cable
- Manuals
- Anker SOLIX PS400 Portable Solar Panel
- Solar to XT-60 Charging Cable
- Extension Cable (3m) (2)
- Manual
Tech specs
Anker SOLIX C2000 Gen 2 Portable Power Station
- Model: A1783
- Battery Type: Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP)
- Cycle Life: 4000 Cycles
- Rated Battery Capacity: 51.2VDC / 40,000mAh / 2,048Wh
- AC Input Port (Charging): 120V~15A Max, (<3 hours), 1,800W Max, 12A (continuous), 60Hz, L+N+PE
- AC Input / Output Port (Bypass Mode): 120V~15A Max, 1,800W Max, 60Hz, (<3 hours when current exceeds 12A), L+N+PE
- AC Output Port (Inverter Mode): 120V~20A, 60Hz, 2,400W Max, L+N+PE
- AC Output Port (TT-30): 120V~20A, 60Hz, 2,400W Max
- AC Output Port (Total): 2,400W Max
- XT-60 Input: 11V-28V 8.2A, 28V-60V 17A Max, (800W Max)
- Car Charger Output: 12V 10A
- USB-A1 Output: 5V 2.4A (12W Max)
- USB-C3 Output: 5V 3A (15W Max)
- USB-C2 Output: 5V 3A / 9V 3A / 12V 3A / 15V 3A / 20V 5A / 28V 5A (140W Max)
- USB-C1 Output: 5V 3A / 9V 3A / 12V 3A / 15V 3A / 20V 5A / 28V 5A (140W Max)
- USB-A1 and USB-C3 Total Output: 5V 4A (20W Max)
- Discharging Temperature: -4°F to 104°F / -20°C to 40°C
- Charging Temperature: 32°F to 104°F / 0°C to 40°C
- Dimensions: 18.1 × 9.8 × 10.1 inches (459 × 250 × 257 mm)
- Weight: 41.7 lb (18.9 kg)
Anker SOLIX PS400 Portable Solar Panel
- Model: A2437
- Peak Power: 400W
- Rated Voltage: 48V
- Rated Current: 8.33A
- Solar Cell Type: Monocrystalline Solar Cells
- Dimensions (Folded): 39.0 × 26.6 × 2.0 in (990 × 675 × 50 mm)
- Dimensions (Unfolded): 100.0 × 39.0 × 1.2 in (2540 × 990 × 30 mm)
- Net Weight: 35.5lb (16.12kg)
Design and features
The Anker SOLIX C2000 Gen 2 Portable Power Station is a compact, yet full-featured power solution for most needs. Camping, picnics, power outages, etc. It has several charging methods and even more power outlets. Charges quickly and lasts all day under the right conditions.
Charging the power station is simple with the included cables. The Solix C2000 Gen 2 has 3 methods of charging: AC, Solar, and by a 12V car outlet. Charging from an AC outlet from empty to full takes about 90 minutes. Solar charging takes quite a bit longer. From my calculations, it would take about 8-10 hours using the Anker SOLIX PS400 Portable Solar Panel that was included in my review bundle. You can also charge from a car’s 12V adapter. This would be a great way if you are driving in an RV and need the power once you get there.
Getting power out of the power station can be accomplished in a number of different ways.
The Solix C2000 Gen 2 has 4 output types: five 120V/20A AC outlets (US style) at a 2,400W max, one TT-30 120V/20A outlet, and two USB-C ports with multiple voltages/3-5A at 140W max. One USB-C port fixed at 5V/3A at 15W max, one USB-A port 5V/2.4A at 12W max, and finally one 12V car-type outlet.
The AC outlets can be used in bypass mode. This means if the power station is plugged in to charge, the AC outlets can be used at the same time as an uninterruptible power supply for sensitive equipment (computers, routers, medical, etc.). If the regular power is cut off, the Solix C2000 Gen 2 will kick over to battery power within 10ms.
The Anker SOLIX C2000 Gen 2 Portable Power Station has a full-color display screen that shows vital information during charging and discharging. The most critical info is the time left until 100% during charging. It will also show the estimated time to complete discharge. Other icons on the screen indicate various output ports being used.
Anker offers a few expansion options that can double the capacity (4096W) when connected to the SOLIX C2000 Gen 2 via the expansion port on the side of the power station.
Solar Panel
The Anker SOLIX PS400 Portable Solar Panel, included for review (sold separately or in a bundle), is a large (27 sq. feet) solar panel that can be used to charge the power station when AC charging capability is not available.
The solar panel is rated at a maximum of 400W output, and would charge the power station from empty to full in about 6-8 hours.
The panel is completely waterproof and safe to use in almost any weather.
App
Anker has an app that can be used to connect to the power station to monitor charging or usage at any time. It also has many settings that can make the power station perform to your liking. All the same information that is displayed on the power station’s screen is available in the app, with more detail.
Performance
Using the Anker SOLIX C2000 Gen 2 Portable Power Station met all my expectations for a product from Anker. It was flawless in all of its functions and provided clean, high-level output in all the situations I used it in.
Installing the Anker Solid app was just a quick download and registration. Adding the power station was as simple as powering on the power station, and the app found it. From there, setting the options was self-explanatory. Monitoring the charging and discharging was great. It provided all the information needed, especially when it needed to be recharged or when charging would be finished.
AC charging the power station from empty to full was completed in about 90 minutes. This was surprisingly fast to me, especially for LFP batteries. Obviously, charging via solar and a car would take quite a bit longer due to decreased voltage and amps. AC charges at a maximum of 120V/20A, which would be 2,400 watts (voltage x amps). In my house, AC charging was at 15A, so the input wattage was around 1,800 watts.
In my testing, charging via solar (on a very clear, bright, no-clouds day) reached a maximum of 223 watts at 7.5 amps, which is about 30 volts. At this rate, it would take over 8 hours to charge completely from empty to full. Car charging (which I did not attempt) would only be at 12V/10A, which is 120 watts. At his rate, it would take over 17 hours to charge empty to full.
One thing I did not like about the solar panel is the way to angle it toward the sun for maximum sunlight absorption. There are four folding panels for the solar panel, and three of the panels have “legs” on the back that are adjustable with a strap for each leg. These legs are not rigid and are very prone to folding up. They were very cumbersome to use on uneven ground. It would be best to lean the panel on some chairs or just lay it flat on the ground.
On Anker’s website, they make a point to say that a typical refrigerator could be run for 32-64 hours on the SOLIX C2000 Gen 2 (without opening the doors at all). In my testing, I ran our refrigerator with typical usage for 22 hours. The fridge typically requires about 85-95 watts to run, with occasional jumps to over 100W. I think this was a good outcome. If in an extended power outage, the fridge could be unplugged and plugged back in to extend the 22 hours to much longer.
Living in Florida, having a power station (or several) is a necessity. Extended power outages are a pain, especially in the honest part of the year. Setting up a hurricane-induced power outage simulation is always a fun test for a power station.
I hooked up a small countertop stove and a hotplate to cook some eggs and toast. The hotplate was rated at 900W for quick cooking, and the stove was rated at 1,600W. With a full charge on the power station, I cooked a single egg and two pieces of toast (which took 5 minutes from start to finish). This used 13% of the SOLIX C2000 Gen 2’s capacity. So the lesson learned is to limit cooking this way during a long power outage.
I set up a second hurricane simulation with the TV, a single lamp, a fan, and several mobile devices charging all at the same time. I ran this simulation for one hour. This consumed about the same amount of power as the cooking test, but it was for over an hour. This would mean that this kind of test would run about 7 hours before fully draining the battery. Not too bad.
Final thoughts
The Anker SOLIX C2000 Gen 2 Portable Power Station is a great addition to our hurricane kit and will be used during picnics and outings. Its many outlets and power ports will satisfy anyone’s needs. The Anker Solix App is a great way to monitor the power station during charging and usage. All around, the SOLIX C2000 Gen 2 is a great option for a portable power station.
What I like about the Anker SOLIX C2000 Gen 2 Portable Power Station and Solar Panel
- Although heavy, it is portable for limitless uses
- Very quick AC charging
- Quiet fan during charging
- Many output options
- Expandable
What needs to be improved?
- MagSafe charging on the top of the power station would be a very nice feature
- Solar panel is hard to set up
- Very heavy
Price: Power Station: $1,498.00, Solar Panel $899.00
Where to buy: Power Station: Anker, Solar Panel: Anker, Bundle: Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided for free by Anker. Anker did not have a final say on the review and did not preview the review before it was published.
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